Abstract
The Research and Development Project on Local Health Communication: Pattani was to search for those interested in and having the potential to become a “Health Communicator” in the area. That would believably lead to good health for the locals. The Project was conducted using a Participatory Action Research approach.
The research team embarked on the project by studying officers dealing directly with health services. They included 477 hospital officers, public health officers and volunteers, sharing their problems and needs. Then, a forum was organized in order to gather information and opinions from a supporting group on health communication. The group was made of executives and members of both public and private health organizations, local media organizations, and community leaders. Moreover, 5,000 flyers were distributed to pass on the concept of “health communicator.” It was found that interested people regarded taking part in this project as a means to improve their communication and media production skills.
After having analyzed the needs of prospective health communicators, the research team organized two types of skill enhancing activity: (1) Radio Program Production and (2) Animated Media Production for Children. The former was organized for health service providers while the later was specifically for child teachers and care-takers from five provinces.
The research results showed that forming a network of health communicators in the area can be achievable. However, needed are initiative support, diffusion of health communication concept, continuous skill enhancing, communication system between areas/groups, and analysis of target groups. It is important to clearly identify who are supporters, communicators, audiences, and connectors. Additionally, the fair management system of benefits is also vital.
